their head coach just got the chance for 3 weeks to poke and prod him, and from everything Blashill has said, he thinks the kid is wonderful...I wouldn't call the Wings stupid if they passed on Hughes, but I don't know how much more things need to align to see where a player is pretty much going to go.

their head coach just got the chance for 3 weeks to poke and prod him, and from everything Blashill has said, he thinks the kid is wonderful...I wouldn't call the Wings stupid if they passed on Hughes, but I don't know how much more things need to align to see where a player is pretty much going to go.

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good info to know.

got a strong source from someone that knows Holland, apparently they "really" like Evan Bouchard.

They're stupid, That pretty ignorant statement there. Larkin roomed with Hughes at the Worlds and he does play at the University of Michigan. So you figure it out.

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Figure what out? What is Larkin going to pound on the draft table and demand they take Hughes. I hope he does and I hope they listen but forgive me for being skeptical of the wing's braintrust. This is the same group that gave your boy johnathan Ericsson a asinine contract that's hamstrung the team the team along with many other horrible contracts given out by Holland and Ryan Martin the supposed capolgist . There up against the cap more than any team in the league and they blow. So I will just keep making "ignorant statements"based on there track record.

The comparison of other notable D-men chosen in the first round who played their draft season in the NCAA.
Obviously conferences should be taken into account but he is in good company
Hughes being the oldest, but all ages were at the beginning of the year

I think he's a real option at 3 for the Habs. LD is our top need after C, he's NHL ready, and we have the perfect guy for him to develop with in Weber.

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Agreed. It’s a real tough draft to predict, though. Dahlin/Svechnikov are a clear 1/2, but after that Hughes, Zadina, Tkachuk, Dobson, Boqvist, Bouchard and Wahlstrom are all so close, I can see 3-9 going in almost any order. And very likely there will be some surprises, with other players slipping into the top 9.

Hughes would be my personal pick at 3, but actual draft order, who knows. Zadina does seem the safest bet to go 3rd, and he’s real good, but I personally prefer Hughes.

If Hughes is still on the board when the Canucks draft, they're sprinting to the podium....but just don't see it happening....more likely they have to settle for one of Dobson, Walstrom or Bouchard, which is a pretty solid 'consolation'.

Agreed. It’s a real tough draft to predict, though. Dahlin/Svechnikov are a clear 1/2, but after that Hughes, Zadina, Tkachuk, Dobson, Boqvist, Bouchard and Wahlstrom are all so close, I can see 3-9 going in almost any order. And very likely there will be some surprises, with other players slipping into the top 9.

Hughes would be my personal pick at 3, but actual draft order, who knows. Zadina does seem the safest bet to go 3rd, and he’s real good, but I personally prefer Hughes.

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Zadina is an amazing prospect, and I actually have him right there with Svechnikov due to his NHL style game and will to score. We just are loaded with LH wingers, so I think Hughes makes more sense in that regard. Ultimately though Zadina might just be too good to pass on, McKenzie called him the best goal scorer in the draft and we need goals.

How close is Hughes to being NHL ready? He already has a year at UM and th WHC under his belt. Is it unreasonable to think that he has a shot at cracking an NHL roster out of camp?

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Probably because unless he decides to leave college first he won’t actually be at his NHL club’s training camp. College players can’t attend and retain their eligibility. Or maybe they can but would have to pay their way (flight, room, etc) not sure exactly which it is. Either way they never do.

Probably because unless he decides to leave college first he won’t actually be at his NHL club’s training camp. College players can’t attend and retain their eligibility. Or maybe they can but would have to pay their way (flight, room, etc) not sure exactly which it is. Either way they never do.

How close is Hughes to being NHL ready? He already has a year at UM and th WHC under his belt. Is it unreasonable to think that he has a shot at cracking an NHL roster out of camp?

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His skating, passing, and vision are NHL ready, but I'm guessing he'll end up at Michigan for one more season and then make a full time impact at the NHL the following year - eerily similar to Werenski.